退化性關節炎對世人的衝擊不只是台灣，全世界亦然，所有的中老年人慢性膝痛都有可能是退化性關節炎。而退化性關節炎對於中老年人所帶來的影響有膝關節腫脹變形，更嚴重可能結構上會損毀，導致患者步態不良，長期的折磨會嚴重影響生活品質。而且隨著人口老化，問題逐漸被放大，社會也將為此付出了極大的醫療成本。根據中央健保局的資料顯示，治療退化性關節炎每年的醫療給付平均有十七億，其中還不包括自費購買的營養補充品，如葡萄糖胺製劑等。根據大林慈濟醫院膝關節中心主任呂紹睿醫師的研究，膝蓋內側皺襞相關的內側摩擦現象與退化性關節炎有相當密切的關係。內側摩擦現象對於內側皺襞與股骨內側髁之間的交互作用扮演關鍵的角色。當膝關節被彎曲超過五十度時，內側皺襞會承受足以破壞股骨內側髁的軟骨細胞的壓力。因此大角度且頻繁的彎曲膝關節，對於退化性關節炎是一種危險因子。有鑑於此，我們希望能夠發明一種裝置能夠 長時間監控使用者是否過度使用他的膝蓋。藉著利用在一般市售護膝上附加上兩個由實驗室所開發的加速度感測器，其中一個加速度感測器置於膝蓋上緣，另一個放在膝蓋下緣，我們預期量測使用者各種日常生活的活動模式，如走路(平地)、上下樓梯、站與坐、椅子起站繞物。實驗中，走路與上下樓梯測試時間三分鐘，坐與站測試時間約三十秒。由於走路(平地)與上下樓梯，膝關節彎曲角度明顯有不同，坐與站也是明顯不同的模式，因此我們預期可以區分出上述活動模式。我們的關節角度監測裝置非常的輕巧，總重不超過十克，耐用而且省電，能夠附加在一般的護膝上，因此具備採集資料的便利性。同時透過演算法計算可以得到膝蓋彎曲的角度，了解使用者膝蓋的使用狀況。;The osteoarthritis causes the elderly’s knee with swelling, deformation, structural damages and then leads to undesired impractical movements which dramatically affect the quality of life. In Taiwan as the population aging, the problems become more severe and then result in raising the social cost. According to the report from Bureau of National Health Insurance that the average annual medical treatment for osteoarthritis attains $ 1.7 billion. According to the researches from Dr. Shaw-Ruey Lyu with Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, the severity of osteoarthritis is associated with the medial abrasion of arthrosis. Besides, the damaged pressures of all situations occur when knee angle excesses 50° of flexion. We hope to design an equipment that could monitor whether the user had overused his knee. Two accelerometers which are developed by K&Y Lab are attached on the knee brace. One accelerometer wear on the upper edge of the knee and the other on the lower edge of the knee. We want to monitor the different patterns of activity in daily life such as walking, walking up the stairs, walking down the stairs, standing and sitting, standing up from chair and walking for 8 feet. We expect that our monitor can distinguish different patterns of activity and quantify the usage of knee. Our devices can help the patients suffered from the osteoarthritis by monitoring the usage of knee.
